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"You’re already experiencing the transition cycles of adrenaline and lethargy, mixed with the occasional spurt of bloodlust or pain As you progress over the next seventy-two hours, that cycle will get tighter and tighter The bloodlust will happento end When I get his blood, it should get easier If it goes as it should, you’ll be able to learn control, anticipate the rise and fall of the cycles Since you already have a good grasp of what control is all about, I expect you’ll handle yourself better than an leaned forward, his hands clasped loosely between his spread knees, the duster pulling across his broad shoulders While Anwyn didn’tclose to a quiver Gideon’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t ave the impression she wanted to an’s eyes, Gideon expected the vamp could see it as well, but he didn’t back off Instead, he stared into her shuttered gaze

"This isn’t going to be easy, Anwyn It’s going to be the hardest thing in your life you’ve ever faced, because you’re going to have to co to lose control of everything for a while Your body, your mind Those reactions are entirely chemical, beyond your ability to suppress them"

"What happens if I don’t take his blood?"

"That’s not an issue" His words took on an edge of steel Gideon could appreciate "What I need you to focus on, Anwyn, is not giving up" He reached out a hand

She jerked her hands back before he made contact, an involuntary reaction that seeers as if they weren’t a part of her Daegan extended his hand farther, turned it so his knuckles were on her knee, his palm faceup "Put your hand in mine, Anwyn," he said quietly

Gideon’s attention sharpened While the words weren’t unkind, there was a firan Rei expected to be obeyed Anwyn closed her eyes, her hand balling into a fist The veneer was cracking, and it was painful to watch "No I can’t I don’t want to be touched"

"Yes, you do You’re just afraid of what’s going on inside of you, and you think if you put on the right clothes, the right makeup, and exert that iron will of yours, you’ll stop it froan slid his hand up her knee, hooked the sed it loose and brought the rest of her hand into his clasp, leaving their joined hands resting high on her thigh

Whatever their relationship, it was clear the va to let her withdraw from him While Gideon would still be pleased to stake him, he couldn’t deny the unwelcoe of her personality to help keep her safe with theest you change into sooing to voan touched her face, drawing her eyes to him "Perhaps one of my shirts would be most comfortable to start But don’t be surprised that, as your teainst your skin" Jacob had avoided being entirely naked for the bloodlust cycle, though he’d been down to loose boxers when all was said and done Even those had been plastered to him fro to crack in a an caressed it with a light finger "This next is going to be hard for lanced toward Gideon, then back at her pale, strained face "Until we can get the sire’s blood into you, and see how it does, we are going to need to restrain you, to keep you fro yourself or others"

Her reaction to that was immediate and decisive "No" She shook her head "I won’t You’ll be here You can stop o retrieve the blood you need," he reminded her "You wouldn’t want to hurt Gideon, would you? Or force hiht?" Her lashes had swept down, but now they flicked back up, red swirling in the iris like a shark’s fin cutting the water "Why don’t you just force ets you hard" Wrapped in the nastiness of the accusation was a hissing note that didn’t belong to the face of the woave Gideon a chill up his spine A shudder went through her, and she was up and out of the chair,to become this I’m not"

"Anwyn" Gideon put a hand out as she passed hiotten how quick even a new va her upper arm, the next he was airborne, those deceptively s latched onto him, yanked him forward and thrown hih-wire athlete In that split second, he knew he and the coffee table were going to collide It was a solid oak, so it would cheerfully crack a couple of his ribs

Instead, he rolled over a pair of very strong ared his trajectory He landed with a bounce on the love seat The i unscathed to the carpet on the other side He rolled to his feet in one co hiripped her features She stared at her hands, then her gaze snapped up "Gideon I’o to hih her li her attention "You walk around freely,cher , trying to pretend this is not going to happen, and it will not be one of us you will hurt It will be Madelyn, or James, or one of the others Until you have this under control, you’d tear into your alley cats like they were an afternoon dessert prepared by your chef"

His words were ruthless, though he spoke in a moderate tone When he stepped to her, put his hands on her ar, intelligent woest I know If you truly want to take control, prove that nothing rules Anwyn Naiive us control, to protect you and others Do that, and I swear to you, upon all that I ah this, you will reclais were an’s eyes Whether she realized it or not, her fingers were clutched on his forearms now as he cradled her elbows His reassurance was absolute, his authority filling the roo-to-get-past- had